MotoGP Exclusive interview with Florian Ferracci (KTM) “Johann wants a bike that is easier to ride and less tiring”

For his first Grand Prix on the Austrian steed, Johann Zarco finished fifteenth in Qatar, just over two seconds behind his teammate Pol Espargaró, but only 15.093 behind winner Andrea Dovizioso. Johann and his KTM do not yet form a perfect symbiosis, but progress is coming little by little.

Florian, how was Johann's first GP with the RC 16?

“The tests didn't go very well. Johann fell at the end of FP4, then he had another small fall during qualifying. We had found a good basic setting for the bike, but apparently Johann had problems in Turn 2 where he fell. He was not the only one because several drivers fell in this same curve.

“If you have a good memory, you certainly remember that he fell, while he was leading the race two years ago, in turn 2. We're not lucky in this one!

“But we were still happy with the setup we found for the race. It was also known that he could do many consecutive regular laps throughout the duration of the event. So we were pretty confident to try to get into the points.”

Will it be easier to modify the bike for Johann, or Johann's riding style for the bike?

“Johann wants a motorcycle that is easier to ride and less tiring. His priority is to be able to run a very consistent race with all the fast and consistent laps. Not doing a good lap followed by a bad one, because of a mistake, because the bike doesn't turn well or whatever. His priority is really to make the bike easy to ride throughout the race.”

Can we base ourselves on what we saw in Qatar, or is it difficult because the circuit and the weather circumstances are very particular there? ?

“I think that we can still base ourselves on what we saw in Qatar. Johann finished fifteenth, he scored a point, and he is still happy because we are starting from something.

“But what we especially need to see is the gap with the first. He finished fifteenth, but only 15 seconds behind the first over 22 laps, and I even believe that it is the tightest gap – or one of the tightest – among the first 15 at the finish of a race. .

This is the absolute record (15.093 between first and 15th) since the creation of the World Championship in 1949.

" So ! This demonstrates the impressive level in MotoGP. Everyone goes fast! As someone who has been in it for years, I am really impressed by the current level.”

In which areas is there the most progress to be made?

“It’s difficult to say, we’re talking tenth by tenth. Make the bike easier, try to find grip, and try to get through the middle of the corner faster because that's a bit of the problem.

“In terms of engine power, we really aren't missing much. I think we are very close to the best. Both in terms of its character and the power of the engine, we have no worries on that side. We need to be able to go through the corners faster, that's the goal. »

Can Johann and Pol Espargaró exchange useful information despite their very different styles?

“They trade some. Between them directly, I don't know, but in terms of data it communicates very well in the box. Besides, Pol is satisfied to be able to benefit from Johann's work and he says so. He is also happy that the bike is becoming easier and easier to ride. Although they have completely different styles, Pol uses settings very close to Johann's, which is very positive. The goal is to make the bike easier to ride and Pol benefits from that too. »

 

Video: The departure

Photos © Sebas Romero and Gold and Goose for KTM